West India Docks North Quay. This was London's first cargo handling dock. It was opened in August 1802 and was the largest of its kind in the world at that time. During the 1700s the Merchant ships would be moored along the river Thames. With 13,500 ships arriving each year there was a demand that something be done to prevent the blocking of the river with all the ships. The cargo from these ships would be ferried to the shore by smaller boats called 'lighters'. As a consequence there were many opportunities for the cargo to be stolen.
In response to the anger of the owners of the cargo, a secure dock was built allowing the cargo to be unloaded within 4 days rather than the 4 weeks. Alongside the dock they built 9 secure warehouses to store the cargo. Today there remains just one which now houses restaurants and the London Docklands Museum.
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Weekend Reflections
England does old and new very well. Aren't the petunias brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recolect visiting one the dock in 2000 it may well have been that one, least it is still there which is a good thing
ReplyDeleteI guess you couldn't pay extra for overnight delivery back then! My how some things in our lives have improved!
ReplyDeleteWhat a story, everthing changes so fast.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit this place. You always make me wish I could travel to London. Next best thing are your pictures and text. :-)
ReplyDeletelove all those angles and reflections :>)
ReplyDeleteThe old dock area has completely disappeared and now it looks like "Little Dubai" ! What a change, just like around the King's Cross Station !
ReplyDeleteWest India Docks look so nice and I love the old building.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice reflection of the modern glass building amongst the old boats. And the restaurant on the cay looks like a nice spot to stop and "reflect" on the old and the new!
ReplyDeleteFantastic reflection on the docks...The buildings are brilliant...What a great change with a nice adaptation of the old building...
ReplyDeleteThose building are terrific ! I like the urban vibe you capture on your pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe building are great and the reflections are amazing .Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteInteresting history! Thanks for sharing that and your photos.
ReplyDeleteInteresting history and nice reflections!
ReplyDeletebeautiful reflection shot! cannot imagine the happenings at that pier long ago!
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting history and reminds me that something we noticed about London was how amazingly it seemed to blend old and new (at least we thought that then -- although your post I read earlier today about the Docklands made me rethink that a bit).
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